Mayoral Candidates on Homelessness

StreetWise emailed the candidates the same two questions on homelessness and on how to retain the middle class in Chicago. We asked for a combined response of 500 words and longer answers were edited down to uniform length for reasons of space and fairness. There were multiple follow-up emails, phone calls and texts. Sophia King was the only candidate who did not respond.

1.Chicago is deservedly proud of its reputation as a world-class city in terms of art, theater, music and restaurants, but urbanologist Richard Florida says that the flip side is the "new urban crisis" of a shrinking middle class, deepening segregation and increasing inequality.

What is your solution to prevent the displacement of low-income Chicagoans and the retention of middle-class Chicagoans?

2.There are a lot of solutions to homelessness out there, starting with the proposed Bring Chicago Home ordinance, which would raise the Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT), a onetime tax paid when a property is sold, by 1.9 percentage points on properties over $1 million and dedicate the funding to permanent housing with services.

Are you in favor? What other solutions do YOU support?

WILLIE WILSON

1. The middle class is disappearing. Today, over 64 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and inflation is outpacing wages. I will prioritize making all neighborhoods safe. Too many people are living in terror. I will cut property taxes, bag and water bottle taxes. If neighborhoods are safer, we can grow our business base and people will stay in the city. Also, cutting taxes helps to drive people to shop in Chicago. I will use every economic tool to ensure that we slow gentrification and raise wages. I believe our police, teachers and firefighters should get an increase in pay.

2. No, I am opposed to additional taxes. The imposition of taxes drives businesses and citizens out of the city. Affordable housing is a basic right. I will be intentional in demanding the city enforce the current affordable housing units and expand with new housing projects. I will utilize vacant lots and large buildings to build additional affordable housing. Also, I will create a task force to make recommendations to ensure affordable housing and deal with the homeless crisis. Under my Administration, I will make resources available to deal with homelessness.

Willie Lee Wilson was part of the Democratic Party, and is now a member of the Willie Wilson Party. Wilson grew up in poverty and became a business owner and entrepreneur. He was chairman of the Governor’s Task Force on Fair Practices in Contracting.

KAM BUCKNER

1. I am committed to creating a mix of affordable housing stock, emergency housing, temporary housing, and permanent supportive housing to combat the homelessness crisis in our city. In partnership with the Obama CBA, I’ve urged the city to set aside all 52 Woodlawn lots for affordable housing and have committed to doing so myself as Mayor if it isn’t done by the time I take office. I will also work with the coalition to ensure equitable development in South Shore to protect homeowners, expand tenants’ rights, and prevent displacement. We also need to create the resources that allow our communities to thrive. My administration will create programs that encourage businesses to convert to employee-owned cooperatives; this would help workers build wealth and avoid displacement as they are increasingly priced out of their communities. We will set the groundwork for a new Burnham-like plan for Chicago that will guide us through the next 100 years. This plan will be the blueprint for zoning, development and the economy, so that growth and development don’t just happen to Chicago, but with Chicago and for Chicago. I also think we need to do a better job of involving communities in the decisions that most impact them. I will champion more participatory budgeting processes, participatory zoning advisory committees (particularly for communities that have suffered significant displacement), regular town halls and listening sessions, and more.

2. Let me begin by reiterating, as I have time and time again, that housing is a human right. I have been a vocal supporter of the Bring Chicago Home ordinance for years and have committed to the RETT [Real Estate Transfer Tax] increase on properties over $1 million in my housing plan. I’ve also committed to making sure those funds go directly to addressing the homelessness crisis in our city. We can use these expanded RETT funds for the following:

● Single-family rehab in currently distressed neighborhoods ($20 million)

● Gap financing for new affordable multi-family housing ($20 to $40 million)

● Additional funding for rehab of affordable multi-family properties via the existing Troubled Buildings Initiative ($10 million)

● Expansion of the City’s network of noncongregate homeless shelters ($10 million) Note: tens of millions of new federal and state dollars will shortly be available

● Additional funding for new permanent supportive housing ($20 million)

● New funding for a revival of the New Homes for Chicago program to put affordable dwelling units on vacant land ($10 to $20 million) Note: Developers would be sold lots for $1. I have also released a comprehensive housing platform that details other commitments to improving the housing situation in our city. At the center of it is a commitment to hire a cabinet-level position that is responsible for increasing and managing affordable housing stock. This person would coordinate across departments, work directly with builders, and manage the creation and maintenance of affordable housing across the city. I will work to evaluate the affordable dwelling unit (ADU) pilot and look for opportunities to expand it, expand CHA vouchers, incentivize the development of 2-flats, and more.

Kambium Elijah Buckner has been a Democratic Party member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 26th district since 2019. Buckner is House Chair of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. He is a member of 6 committees: AppropElementary & Secondary Education, Child Care Access & Early Childhood, Firearms and Firearm Safety, Higher Education, Judiciary - Criminal, and Transportation: Vehicles & Safety.

1.Chicago is deservedly proud of its reputation as a world-class city in terms of art, theater, music and restaurants, but urbanologist Richard Florida says that the flip side is the "new urban crisis" of a shrinking middle class, deepening segregation and increasing inequality.

What is your solution to prevent the displacement of low-income Chicagoans and the retention of middleclass Chicagoans?

2.There are a lot of solutions to homelessness out there, starting with the proposed Bring Chicago Home ordinance, which would raise the Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT), a one-time tax paid when a property is sold, by 1.9 percentage points on properties over $1 million and dedicate the funding to permanent housing with services.

Are you in favor? What other solutions do YOU support?

JESÚS "CHUY" GARCÍA

1. We are at a moment in our city’s history where we have a generational opportunity — and obligation — to build a more equitable, inclusive economy — one that works for all Chicagoans. Safety must be the top priority for all our communities. And every community deserves a good school. Every neighborhood should have access to grocery stores and public transportation. People want an affordable city where they’re not going to be displaced. Many Chicagoans who grew up here, raised their children here, who have only known Chicago their entire lives, have been forced out.

I proposed a Property Tax Relief plan that provides relief now to ensure people can remain in their homes. No homeowner should lose their home because they can’t afford their property taxes. The state of Illinois has unfairly burdened municipalities including the City of Chicago by forcing them to rely on property and sales taxes and fees to fund schools and essential services and employee benefits.

2. Yes. I support raising the Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT), the one-time tax paid when a property is sold. But this is only a piece of the puzzle.

Housing is a human right. And addressing our crisis of homelessness is a top priority.

I support Bring Chicago Home. Additionally I have other plans to address homelessness, which include, among other strategies, directing the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) to:

• Address homelessness by making the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) use its current funding and resources to lease units of public housing it has sitting unoccupied, and to issue new vouchers to help thousands of cost-burdened and at-risk lowincome families.

• Ensure increased options for survivors of gender-based violence by expanding CHA programs and initiatives that can provide subsidized housing for special populations and people in need.

• Building more affordable housing and working with nonprofits and private industry to make sure that we are increasing the rate of affordable units across the city.

Congressman Jesus "Chuy" Garcia has represented the Fourth Congressional District of Illinois since 2019 and is a member of the Democratic Party. Congressman Garcia serves on the influential Financial Services Committee, Natural Resources Committee, and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Congressional Equality Caucus, Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, and New Americans Caucus and founded the Future of Transportation Caucus. IIn 1965, Garcia and his family emigrated from Mexico to Chicago, where his father was working. He has worked to raise the minimum wage and on other legislation to help disadvantaged communities.

JA'MAL GREEN

1. I propose an investment into affordable housing, property tax breaks, and other incentives for renters and homeowners to stay. Secondarily, we must make this city a place people want to raise a family, live, and retire with a safe city offering high quality education. It is essential that we make sure our families can afford to live here, and want to. Under a Green administration, we will make that a reality.

2. I support the Real Estate Transfer Tax and will work to pass it. We can, and we must do a better job of funding the programs that matter, and this tax can be a piece of that puzzle.

Ja’Mal Green is an actor and activist known for his support of Black Lives Matter. Green is a Democrat and the youngest mayoral candidate, who has been an activist half his life. He is the founder of Majostee Allstars, a nonprofit that seeks to empower marginalized youth through training and mentoring.

BRANDON JOHNSON

1. In 2021, the City of Chicago put up $290 million for affordable housing production and preservation. But that money ended up going to build houses and condos the average Chicagoan can’t afford. While the median household income in our city is $62,000, 40 percent of the units the city calls “affordable” are for incomes higher than that threshold.

Luxury housing developments don’t need public subsidies. Chicago should focus its housing investments where they will make the most difference – building units for middle class and low-income Chicagoans.

I would encourage the Chicago Housing Authority to cease any land grabs or private partnerships, and instead, develop local community processes for land use to deliver on the promises to rebuild public housing in our city. This is how the City and its people and communities can address the housing and humanitarian crisis together.

The City of Chicago needs to work with existing homeowners who are behind on their mortgages or maintenance to rehabilitate those buildings and create new affordable rental units in the process. The CIty can also develop comprehensive plans to support local affordable housing projects such as 18th and Peoria in Pilsen – the largest affordable housing plan in the city. We must ensure that the local average median income and local residents are considered, and encourage residents to apply for quality affordable housing units. With tax increment financing (TIF) reform, those funds can be an important source of revenue. We can also support and invest in innovative models like housing co-ops that create permanent affordable housing units, and encourage the creation of a public bank to ensure fair lending opportunities for Chicagoans.

Finally, we must strengthen tenant protection and pathways to home ownership, and protect naturally occurring affordable housing by capping property tax hikes and working with state officials to 1) create tax breaks for those who keep rents affordable, and 2) change State statutes to assess taxes based on rental income.

2. Yes, I support the proposed Bring Chicago Home ordinance. Any serious housing plan needs to start with a real vision for moving unhoused Chicagoans into safe and affordable housing. Studies have shown that safe and stable housing reduces trauma and crime, and protects some of our city’s most vulnerable residents – ending the continued cycle of displacement and our neighbors dying from exposure to the elements.

The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) has unfortunately failed in its commitment to build the housing that it promised to residents more than 20 years ago. In 2000, the CHA embarked on a plan to tear down 39,000 public housing units and replace them with 25,000 units. But two decades later, residents are still waiting to see that promise fulfilled. Lots sit vacant, while the CHA gives away land to the Chicago Fire and 65,000+ Chicagoans remain unhoused.

We need more housing at every income level across the city; a moratorium on commercial development on CHA land until the Authority makes significant progress towards building more affordable housing; and a freeze on the transfer of CHA land for non-housing use. We can’t allow public land intended for housing to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Brandon Johnson has been a member of the Cook County Board who has represented the 1st district since 2018. Johnson is a Democrat and attended Aurora University. He was a public school teacher and became an organizer with the Chicago Teachers Union.

1.Chicago is deservedly proud of its reputation as a world-class city in terms of art, theater, music and restaurants, but urbanologist Richard Florida says that the flip side is the "new urban crisis" of a shrinking middle class, deepening segregation and increasing inequality.

What is your solution to prevent the displacement of low-income Chicagoans and the retention of middle-class Chicagoans?

2.There are a lot of solutions to homelessness out there, starting with the proposed Bring Chicago Home ordinance, which would raise the Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT), a one-time tax paid when a property is sold, by 1.9 percentage points on properties over $1 million and dedicate the funding to permanent housing with services. Are you in favor? What other solutions do YOU support?

LORI E. LIGHTFOOT

1. Preventing the displacement of low-income Chicagoans and retaining middle-class Chicagoans requires us to address long-standing systemic issues, from historic disinvestment on our South and West Sides to public safety challenges to a shortage of high-quality affordable housing to a lack of good-paying jobs that support workers and their families. These problems are decades in the making—but, over the last four years, I have taken unprecedented action to address them.

We increased Chicago’s minimum wage to $15—providing a raise to more than 400,000 workers—and eliminated exemptions that allowed young workers and workers with disabilities to be paid a subminimum wage. We also championed the most robust fair scheduling protections for workers in the nation to ensure that hundreds of thousands of hourly workers in Chicago have greater work scheduling and financial stability.

We ended water shutoffs for non-payment and launched the Utility Billing Relief Program to provide discounted water-sewer bills and utility debt forgiveness to Chicagoans in need.

We launched the INVEST South/West Initiative in 2019, which has mobilized more than $2.2 billion in public and private investment commitments in 10 historically disadvantaged West and South Side communities. We’re also placing the largest investment in affordable housing in city history, pledging more than $1 billion to build new – and preserve existing – homes across the city.

As your mayor, my most important responsibility is public safety. My goal is to make Chicago the safest big city in the country by creating lasting peace, not just episodic periods of peace in certain neighborhoods. We must get to a place where every resident, regardless of where they live, feels safe because they are safe. That’s why we are taking a comprehensive approach to violent crime by tackling the scourge of illegal guns, holding violent, dangerous people accountable, directing unprecedented resources to community-based violence prevention and street outreach, and investing in communities to address the root causes of violence.

Our administration has worked to put the City of Chicago back on the side of lower-income and middle-class Chicagoans, but we still have more work to do. I am excited to continue to build upon our work in a second term so we can build a safer, more prosperous, and more inclusive Chicago where residents from all walks of life can thrive.

2. Supporting Chicagoans experiencing homelessness and housing instability has been a top priority for my administration. We are making historically large investments to provide vulnerable residents with the support they need and deserve. For example, my 2023 budget increased funding for homelessness support services, with $200 million dedicated to investments including rapid rehousing programs, the development of permanent supportive housing, non-congregate housing programs, low-barrier shelter, and additional positions for our homelessness services team.

Additionally, as I described in the previous answer, we are placing the largest single investment in affordable housing in city history, totaling over $1 billion, to build new and preserve existing homes across the city. Affordable housing has also been a key component of my INVEST South/West initiative, which has secured over $2.2 billion in investment commitments in 10 neighborhoods across our city’s South and West Sides. I have always been open to exploring a real estate transfer tax but have concerns about the current language of the proposed ordinance. I remain open to further dialogue with stakeholders on this topic.

Lori Elaine Lightfoot has been mayor of Chicago since 2019 and is a Democrat. Lightfoot was president of the Chicago Police Board, chair of the Police Accountability Task Force, chief of staff and general counsel of the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications, interim first deputy of the Chicago Department of Procurement Services, chief administrator of the Office of Professional Standards, and assistant United States Attorney.

RODERICK SAWYER

1. This is absolutely a crisis. We can fix it, but it requires immediate attention and action. At almost every appearance I make, I talk about making all of our communities self-sustaining. Every neighborhood should have grocery stores, essential retail outlets, professional services, and entertainment options. I would achieve this through grants and incentives to marginalized communities to make them attractive, affordable places to live. Developing lowincome / affordable complexes in these areas would add more people and more opportunity. We add to the tax base with thriving housing and businesses, lowering the individual tax burden.

I’d also offer property tax PAYMENT caps for people at milestone years. For example, your tax payments increase might be capped at 3% after 10 years and then 2% at 20 years. This would keep long-term residents in the city as they age, move into retirement and fixed incomes, and become more vulnerable to tax increases. It would also help people in gentrifying areas who can’t keep up with rising values. (Notice I say a cap on their tax PAYMENT, not just the rate. Changes in assessed valuation, the reason behind the leap in tax payments in 2022, can catch people even more off guard than a change in the rate.) We also have to look at special reductions and exemptions similar to what seniors get, for essential workers from police and teachers to healthcare workers and the people who provide our most important services. I have worked on this issue as an alderman: to legalize adult dwelling units as affordable options and support affordable housing projects. We need a multi-faceted approach and constant vigor to keep housing affordable, such as encouraging more multi-family buildings.

2. I applaud the intent of Bring Chicago Home, but as it currently stands, I don’t support the ordinance for a few reasons. 1) This plan would spend the proceeds on new construction that benefits developers more than people. We have tens of thousands of vacant properties and lots in Chicago that could be used for both homeless accommodation and low-income / affordable housing while also revitalizing communities suffering population loss. It’s a more practical solution that can be implemented faster, provide more housing for the money, and address our vacant lot / abandoned property issue at the same time. 2) The tax sounds minor, but it’s a disincentive to living in Chicago at a time our population is shrinking, especially our Black population. It will be one more reason people move from or choose not to move to Chicago. Beyond that, we HAVE money for homelessness that goes unspent every year. My plan would be to take the money the city has to address homelessness (including the $60 million grant we just got) and begin a two-phase process. First, we begin a major rehab program on properties that can be made livable in short order, and this could provide work for minority contractors, for marginalized people such as citizens returning from incarceration or in drug rehab. Then, we intensely deploy social services to people living on our streets. Access to a housing unit isn’t what keeps many people off the street. They need mental health and / or drug counseling, a full array of social services and then, ongoing care and treatment to move into a new housing unit, remain there, and begin to thrive.

Alderman Roderick T. Sawyer has represented the 6th Ward since 2011. He is a licensed stock broker and real estate broker. He is the Democratic Committeeman on the 6th Ward and Chairman of the City Council Black Caucus. He is a member of the City Council Committees on Education and Child Development, Human Relations, License and Consumer Protection, Pedestrian and Traffic Safety, Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation (Vice-Chairman), Rules and Ethics, Finance and Budget and Government Operations. He practiced law at the Law Office of Roderick T. Sawyer.

1.Chicago is deservedly proud of its reputation as a world-class city in terms of art, theater, music and restaurants, but urbanologist Richard Florida says that the flip side is the "new urban crisis" of a shrinking middle class, deepening segregation and increasing inequality.

What is your solution to prevent the displacement of low-income Chicagoans and the retention of middleclass Chicagoans?

2.There are a lot of solutions to homelessness out there, starting with the proposed Bring Chicago Home ordinance, which would raise the Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT), a one-time tax paid when a property is sold, by 1.9 percentage points on properties over $1 million and dedicate the funding to permanent housing with services.

Are you in favor? What other solutions do YOU support?

PAUL VALLAS

1.We must start with making the City safe. The generational spike in all sorts of crime amplifies decisions by the middle class to leave the city. See my detailed plan at https:// www.paulvallas2023.com/publicsafety.

A few highlights: Public safety is a human right and I will protect it as one; The Federal Court Consent Decree is a floor, not a ceiling. I will fast-track a standing reform structure within the department that recruits civilian expertise on police reform and operations;

● I will quickly deploy officers back to districts so there is full integrity of officers patrolling and walking beats;

● Community policing must be a philosophy at all levels of the department, a career track in a department that values relationship building.

With safe streets, more individuals, businesses and institutions will stay and invest in growing the city. However, that must occur without gentrification and displacement.

My Community Economic Development Plan, laid out January 31 to the City Club of Chicago, prioritizes true community-led, informed and owned economic development without gentrification-based displacement. Community benefits agreements (CBAs) in proposed plans should prioritize dedication of benefits/resources to local social service support organizations, including mental health and addiction and community health centers. I favor restoring mental health centers closed by the Emanuel Administration and not reopened by the Lightfoot Administration; I would expand them to 22 facilities encompassed by each of the city’s geographic police districts. They would be run by the city, in coordination with county facilities.

I also propose:

• creation of a Municipal Bank to leverage city revenues held by private sector municipal depositories (some with histories of predatory and discriminatory lending), to make available low-interest mortgage and residential rehab loans.

• aggressive revitalization of the CHA to fast-track development of affordable housing, which was not replaced during the Plan for Transformation and for which CHA has not been held accountable.

• city/private investment in vacant land for tiny homes.

• priority in city procurement to businesses that hire and retain returning citizens who have received training in expanded partnerships with numerous non-profits around the city.

Ultimately, community economic development must be ownership in the community by people of the community. This would grow the middle class and help low-income community members enter the middle class.

2. I support the objectives of the proposed Bring Chicago Home ordinance, but not the methodology.

Homelessness is a crisis at individual, community, city and national levels. Its causes and effects connect to social deficits and crises, such as public health, addiction, mental health, economic inequities. (See 1st question’s answer on mental health centers, drug addiction/treatment facilities, community-led, informed and owned development, CBAs, Municipal Bank, CHA accountability for affordable units not completed during the Plan for Transformation, priority on returning citizens for solutions.)

Each area of deficit must be fixed. That deficit is the noble prompt for the Bring Chicago Home ordinance. Added taxes to generate income for action for which there is no proposed plan on the table is not responsible governance.

However, I am committed to finding funding that might have been generated from such an added tax from existing programs and resources to achieve the objectives of Bring Chicago Home. That should be collaborative work with the City Council. The current Administration’s parliamentary maneuvering has impeded public debate on this issue and this ordinance.

Paul Gust Vallas is former superintendent of the Bridgeport Public Schools and the Recovery School District of Louisiana, former CEO of both the School District of Philadelphia and the Chicago Public Schools, and former budget director for the city of Chicago.

Compiled by Suzanne Hanney / Bios by Emma Murphy